Stressing Out?

Question

I skate in the opposite direction and for some reason I feel like I need a lot of room to do a jump. It keeps me relaxed I guess. When I have to skate a couple times around because people are in my way I get really upset and angry. I don't like it since I'm mostly a very happy person and being angry does not help the jumps. Does anyone know how I can stay calm?

Answer 1

The reason you feel this way is there are more people skating in the opposite direction you feel comfortable with and means alot of traffic to go against.  Remember during a public skating session the public has the right to skate as well as you.  I would advise trying to practice your jumps at time when the rink isn't quite so crowded.  That way you and the skating public are less likely to get hurt.

You are too focused on what is going on around you and you will never be able to jump as well.  It throws your timing off.

Answer 2

i would check out things that ppl with road rage have to do to cope just google it

Answer 3

Lefty skater here!  

When I was skating, I used to think everyone around ME was upset and angry during freestyle sessions - hee hee - because I was literallly the only lefty in the sessions I went to - oh there were so few of "us".  I thought "I" was the one getting in everyone's way - it's funny how different our attitudes can be about the same situation!  

For the most part, eventually the regulars on the fs session came to realize I was the "opposite direction" skater and got used to sensing when I jumped and where (just as I did for "righty" traffic).  If I kept my cool, they sensed that and just moved out of the way when they could.  Generally speaking, if I was polite, others would be polite or at least be more "forgiving" if I got in their way accidentally (which has happened).  I knew some skaters who barked and sometimes other skaters would not go out of their way to be "as polite" to them . . . so I always made it a point to be as civil as possible on the ice.  

If you are the type to show anger on the outside, be conscious of that . . . and stop doing that as soon as you catch yourself.  Some stomp or kick the ice, yell, shout out some "choice" words, or just plain have a fit . . . ok, you show the world you're frustrated, and that's about all that does.  Keep yourself together no matter how angry you are . . . self control.  Use your mental/emotional energy to focus on your next attempt in a positive way - not get so roused up about an attempt that didn't happen.  

As far as public sessions go, if you are allowed to jump and spin on those sessions, you kind of just have to go with the flow.  I've sort of had to "predict" where there would be room to do such moves - while trying to be considerate to the "public" skaters.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't - "public" skaters are not always predictable, especially in a crowded session.  The situation sometimes forced me to work on footwork and other stuff which was probably a good thing afterall - jumps aren't everything.  

It's ok to get angry at times . . . just don't allow it over ride your enjoyment on the ice!    

Best of luck!!!

Answer 4

Sorry that you belong to the minority of counter clockwise skating (not that being lefty is wrong, it's just that us 90% of the species's righties will always have the preferred right of way in the rink). On one hand, I've seen it myself that poor lefties have a hard time preparing some of the jumps (especially the Lutz); and therefore you're out of luck and will have to go to the rink at an hour when there's few figure skaters that aren't complete beginners and thus won't be in your way (and if not, better just avoid figures like the Lutz when there's too many people).

On the other hand, you'll just have to get used to doing jumps in a rink crowded with people. Think of it as an emotional training for the warm up in a competition. Do you actually think the skaters get 5 minutes on the ice alone each? Nope, you get sometimes up to 10 skaters all rehearsing their routines and warming up their jumps (it can get pretty hectic in there, I've already experienced skaters crashing into me and knocking me over). In a routine in a real competition you can't stop the music, and repeat a failed figure; you've got just 1 chance.

That's one thing I like about skating in public sessions (not that there's really anything like real freestyle sessions in mexican rinks sadly); in a way having little 6 year old kids waddling towards you prepares you to have to correct in the last minute figures when you're in a real competition. While not pretty, skating with bad ice is also good preparation. I've had the misfortune of hving to compete in very bad ice a few times and because I was already used to the ice of that rink in public sessions and so my figures weren't that affected.

Just have good common sense when you're skating. And in the worst of cases. Tisk tisk, learning how to do spins in the opposite direction gives you 1 level up in the new system. All you need to do is a 2 rev sit or camel right handed and you get an easy bonification. I sre wished I was.. at least somewhat competant in lefty skating. ^^'

Answer 5

just keep it low.. that happens to me too. at my lessons we have practice time and there are always bratty kids messing around when i go to jump. if you take lessons maybe you could ask the coach to try to keep the skaters on the other section of the rink for like a certain amount of time so you can jump.. or if your willing to pay the cash maybe ask someone at the rink about practice ice time or buying your own time on the ice..then less people will be there and most of the time those people are practicing jumps too so they'll understand where you are coming from.

hope i was help =]

Answer 6

I used to get like that when skating on public sessions....usually around Christmas time when everyone all of a sudden decides to go skating (like it didn't exsist any other time of the year  haha).  I used to get irritated because it was almost impossible to find breaks in the crowd to practice one jump -- spent more time skating around in circles than actually practicing.  Freestyles can be that way too....at one of our rinks, nobody teaches any rink etiquette anymore (skaters doing their program or in a lesson have priority, etc) so there are too many collisions.  I can't tell you how many times I'm having a lesson and was almost killed by a pair of ice dancers!

What helped me the most is to keep in mind that others are watching (skaters and non-skaters).  When I thought about it from their point of view, it almost seemed embarassing to think that I was getting mad because "everyone was in MY way."  And remember, other skaters have to move for you at times too -- it's a two-way street.  On the public sessions, I tried to keep in mind that not all rinks allowed jumps and spins on their public sessions and the price for a public session sure beat that of a freestyle -- so if I didn't want to mess things up for myself and others, I better keep my attitude to myself.  We have this adult skater who yells at public skaters and freestyle skaters whenever they get within 5 feet of her -- she screamed at me as a kid skater, screams at me as an adult skater/coach and screamed at me when I worked at the rink.  She's a real peach.  I remind myself that I never want to be like her and try to remember that public skaters have no idea which way I'm going or what I'm doing and freestyle skaters have to look out for me just as I look out for them.  I also try to remember with other skaters and coaches, I don't know at what point I may take a lesson from them or the skater may become a better friend, so I don't want to appear catty to them.  

It is irritating, but we all have to "play nice"....sometimes in figure skating, it's hard.  :)  Take a deep breath and remember why you're there -- you love to skate.  Good luck!